San Diego gearing up for big soccer weekend, with U.S. national team playing at Qualcomm, Xolos at Petco Park

The Xolos have played friendlies in San Diego in previous years, at USD’s Torero Stadium twice and last summer at Qualcomm Stadium. This is their first trip to Petco, which has hosted two soccer games in its history: Mexico against Sweden in 2005 and Chivas of Guadalajara against Chivas USA of Major League Soccer in 2010.

Because Corona, Castillo and Gomez all were called to the national team, they won’t be available for the Xolos on Saturday. But the game will mark the debut for new coach Jorge Almiron and possibly for star forward Dario Benedetto of Argentina.

It also is another chance for the Tijuana team to further cultivate San Diego, partnering with the Padres not just for a 90-minute game but in a larger marketing campaign with their respective fan bases.

“For a lot of reasons, there are still a lot of divides with cultures,” said Gomez, who grew up in Las Vegas to Mexican-American parents before spending parts of six seasons in MLS and the last four in Mexico. “They want to be a club without borders, and they’re well on their way. It’s pretty amazing.

“They have something going for them that no other club on either side (of the border) has.”